Pen Case Recommendations? Should Leather Be Avoided?

[Keyless Works]

I would like to buy a nice pen case to replace a 24 pen box that I have with something more portable. I don't mind doing two 12 pen cases if that gives me better options. My budget is up to $200.

 

I always had thought that leather should be avoided for pen storage as the chemicals used to tan leather may interact with the metal trim on pens. Is this a valid concern? I ask because it seems to me that most nice zippered pen cases are made of leather.

 

I also wonder if the synthetic material in elastic straps used in these cases can cause micro scratches? I use all of my pens and don't baby them but I don't want to purposely choose a mode of storage that will increase wear and tear.

 

[Olya]

If I'm not mistaken, vegetable tanned leather won't cause any type of reaction with metal trims.

 

That's all I know (remember..).

[gmax]

I have had instances of pen trim developing tarnish inside unfinished leather cases, but it tends to be superficial and buffs off very easily with a jewellers cloth. I would be more concerned about PU plastics or so-called eco leather that could degrade over time and turn sticky.

 

The zipped Visconti Dreamtouch leather cases are excellent, very hard wearing, and have fabric/microfibre linings. There are dividers to separate the pens, so elastic straps are not needed. They are also sized to hold larger pens, and will accommodate for instance MB149, Sailor KoP, etc.

[Ron Z]

This is purely anecdotal since I have no data other than observation.

 

There was a war time Triumph that I had in my early days of collecting that had been turned to a lovely shade of purple by the chemicals in the leather pen sleeve that it came in. The trim was tarnished too, but that's typical in these pens because Sheaffer used silver instead of brass as the base metal, so the ions migrate up through the gold and tarnish. The pen went back to its ordinary brown after polishing, to both my relief and disappointment. I've never seen damage from tanning chemicals in other cases or pen sleeves, but they also haven't been left there undisturbed for years decades either.

 

Though I have leather cases, my preference is the nylon canvas backed cases available a few years ago. The guy quit making them much to my disappointment. They have wide elastic bands that still hold, and have not damage the pens. Grab one if you find one!

 

I agree - the PLU/PU leather would be of much greater concern because of the plasticizer used to make it, and keep it, flexible. That can damage other plastics with which it comes in contact. I've seen degraded "flocked" plastic damage pens as well.

 

I used fabric pen rolls for years, and still think they're a viable option. Robyn made them out of muslin.

[Intensity]

I stick with flocked fabric-surface for storage and fabric pen cases due to worrying about any fumes or oils being released by leather and objects that have been glued. My pen storage boxes are all 1-level and pretty flat; I prop the glass top cover with 2 stick-on 3M "bumpon" things opposite of the hinge. This way the cover doesn't close completely, leaving an open gap of a few millimeters around the cover, allowing air to circulate into the case.

 

Rickshaw Bags have many options for fabric cases with soft plush interior.

Edited July 28, 2020 by Intensity

[Keyless Works]

Thank you for the responses thus far! I think will avoid a leather case for the time being.

 

Is there a fabric case that has some structure to it or are they mostly going to all be rolls?

[my63]

As a maker of leather cases for pens, I am sorry that you feel that way about leather cases. I have heard stories of leather damaging pens before it comes up every year or so.

I have never seen any evidence of damage caused by leather. After all jewellery has been stored in leather for years.

[Intensity]

Its probably not the leather itself but the dyes and conditioning oils in it. Furthermore leather cases are not particularly breathable. It might not matter for some pens but might matter for others. I just prefer not to take that chance. Ethical and environment considerations aside.

[loganrah]

Franklin-Christoph produces some nice looking non-leather and non-platic pen cases with structure for up to 12 pens. I can't vouch for them myself as I haven't handled one, but they might be worth having a look at.